Appeal No. 1998-3281
Application 08/650,500
Alternatively, the polymer in claim 22 may be polymer (b)
which is defined by a backbone R as in polymer (a) but the
backbone is itself defined by a particular structure recited in
claim 22 and is a four carbon, linear, saturated chain having a
carboxylic acid moiety attached to the number 2 carbon in the
chain. In the formula depicting R in polymer (b), C is not a
hydrophobic saturated alkyl group having at least about 6 carbon
atoms bonded in a linear chain but is, indeed, carbon. A first
substituent A on the (b) polymer is defined as a "hydrophobic
group having at least about 6 atoms bonded in a linear chain."
A second substituent B (not boron) is defined as a "hydrophilic
group containing at least about 9 atoms bonded in a linear
chain." The subscript n in polymer (b) is an integer
representing the number of repeating monomer units in polymer
(b).
Reading this claim standing alone, we agree with the
examiner's conclusion that it is of considerable scope. However,
this, in and of itself, is not a basis for rejection. U.S. Steel
Corp. v. Phillips Petroleum Co., 865 F.2d 1247, 1251, 9 USPQ2d
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007